Leisure Time Decks - Decks and Porches, outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces - Atlanta.

404-939-2201

A Custom Deck and Porch company serving the north metro Atlanta area since 1989.

deck maintenance

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Choosing the Best Materials for Your Deck

There are many materials that you can choose from when you are building your deck and you will want to choose which material you use wisely. While each material is great, some of them will cost more or last longer.

Here are 4 of the more common deck materials that you can choose from for your deck:

Pressure treated wood

Pressure treated wood is your least expensive option when it comes to building your deck. This wood is chemically treated so that it is resistant to fungus, bugs, and rotting. Pressure treated wood is widely available and quite easy to cut and fasten together.

There are a couple of issues when you use this material for your deck though. This material can crack and warp if it is not maintained properly, which means you will need to wash your deck every year and apply a stain every two years.

Tropical hardwoods

There are many tropical hardwoods available for you to use to build your deck and this material is usually chosen because these hardwoods have a rich color and are very durable.

However, tropical hardwoods are very expensive and difficult to cut and fasten together. If you choose this type of material, you will need to stain it often or it will begin to look silver in color.

Redwood and Cedar

Redwood and cedar are naturally beautiful and the oils and tannins in the wood make it naturally resistant to rot and insects. These woods do splinter and the wood can get worn if a lot of people are walking on it.

If you live in an area where it rains quite often, this material might not be the best for you, because prolonged moisture will cause the wood to blacken.

Composite

Composite decking material is made from recycled plastic and wood fibers, which makes it resistant to bugs and weather. This material will also not splinter, warp, rot, or split. This is the material that you will want if you are not good at routine maintenance because it never needs to be stained or refinished.

The only thing that you will need to do with this type of deck is clean it to prevent a buildup of dirt and pollen. This material is a little more expensive than pressure treated wood, but it will last a lot longer and stay new looking for years to come.

Summary

Your budget and the time that you want to spend on maintenance will ultimately help you choose which material you want to use for your deck. If you are unsure of which material is best for you, then give us a call so we can answer all your questions and offer suggestions.

We’ve helped many homeowners create amazing outdoor living spaces that add functionality and usability to the entire property. Our outdoor living spaces serve as kitchens, entertainment, and much more.

Call us at 404-939-2201 to discuss your options or to schedule an appointment for a free consultation!

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Step by Step Guide to Clean and Repair Your Deck before Summer 2016

deck cleaning

Decks are the highlights of many people’s homes and a lot of time and money goes into building them. It is important to clean the deck regularly, so that it looks beautiful for a long time without any major repairs. Deck maintenance is as important as maintenance for your health or your vehicle’s oil changes. One loose board or railing can cause personal injury to anyone who visits your deck. Here are the steps that we use to ensure that a deck looks like it was just built recently and is safe for use:

  1. Inspect the entire deck: Check all of the posts, stairs and joists to make sure they are not rotting and make sure that all of the screws and bolts are tightened. If any nails are popping out, they can either be tapped back in or replaced with screws. If you find anything that has rotted, you will have to replace those items. It is also important to check for any loose wood that can cause splinters.
  2. Clean the surface: The surface of a deck should be cleaned every year. There are many different products available for cleaning a deck or you can make your own with bleach, laundry detergent, and warm water. The cleaner should be applied to the deck and then a stiff brush should be used to scrub the deck before rinsing. Pressure washing can damage the surface of the deck and cause splintering. Always let one of our professional deck maintenance teams handle the pressure washing for you if needed.
  3. Apply stain to the deck: After the deck has been cleaned and has dried thoroughly for a few days, it is time to apply the stain. A clear or transparent stain is a good choice for a newly built deck, but older decks will need a semitransparent stain. The semitransparent stain will provide extra protection and lasts much longer than clear finishes do. The stain can either be applied by spraying or brushing, but a thicker coat is applied when a sprayer is used.

If more than one coat of stain is needed, it should be applied immediately, so that the stain is absorbed into the wood. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. We recommend that stain is applied at least every other year for the best results. Maintaining a deck is quite simple and if you follow these steps, you should be able to enjoy your deck for years to come.

Give us a call at 404-939-2201 if you would like to discuss your ideas for preparing your deck for summer in true southern style. We’re located in Suwanee and provide home remodeling, deck building and remodeling, and construction of other outdoor structures to homeowners in the north metro Atlanta area. Let us know your building or remodeling plans and we’ll discuss the details when we schedule an onsite consultation to begin making plans.

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Why Deck Maintenance Can be Challenging

deck pressure washWhen you build a new wood deck, one of the first things you will be told is how important it is to maintain it. This helps to keep it looking good, but it also ensures that you get many years of enjoyment from it. As your deck ages, it will require more attention, and in some cases, more work to keep it in good shape.

Basic maintenance is something that most people can do on their own, but after a while, it will be necessary to call in the professionals.

This is especially true when the stability of your deck comes into question. Leisure Time Decks in Lilburn, GA builds and maintains decks in the greater Atlanta area; call us any time you need assistance with your wood deck.

Re-staining Your Deck

Any wood surface that is outside will take a beating from the elements. You can protect it with the best wood finishes on the market, but after a while, the climate will take its toll. Some people like the idea of doing their own deck refinishing, but it can be a time-consuming process. The main steps include steps:

  • Inspection: It is necessary to check the deck for signs of problems like loose boards or fasteners
  • Cleaning and power washing: A deep cleaning is necessary before re-staining can be done
  • Sanding: This will remove what is left of the old stain, prepare the surface for the new finish and remove splinters
  • Applying the stain: It is important to select the right stain and to apply it properly to protect the deck
  • Applying sealer: This will keep water from penetrating the wood and causing rot

Significant Deck Problems

Some deck problems are cosmetic, and you can deal with them quickly without much inconvenience.

However, other deck problems could make the structure less safe, and these will require more work. Major deck problems include:

  • Rot: Once this sets in, you might be looking at a big repair bill. Regular deck inspections can help in detecting this problem early so that the affected wood can be removed.
  • Sagging: This could be due to factors such as the settlement of the soil or rotting of the supports. In some cases, the cause could be poor construction, which is why you need experts like us to handle your deck building needs
  • Splits and cracks: These could prove dangerous if ignored. Often, the problem can be dealt with using the right caulk, but it may also be necessary to replace the wood

Decks are beautiful additions to homes, but they require serious commitment to remain that way for years. We have the tools and the skills to give your deck the right attention and to make it last for years to come.

Call to Action

If you’re in the Atlanta area and would like to discuss custom deck builds or maintenance, feel free to call us any time to make an appointment for a consultation.

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How to Build an Eco-Friendly Deck

eco_friendly

You need a deck builder who is on board with eco-friendly materials and building practices if you plan to build an eco-friendly deck. Hire a contractor who specializes in custom buildings and outdoor living spaces. Leisure Time Decks, in the North Atlanta metro area, is just that type of company.

We strive to use sustainable materials where possible and create eco-friendly outdoor living spaces that add a sense of art and imagination to your backyard.

Choosing the Right Location

When starting with a new deck, we will help select the perfect location where the completed deck will have some shade during the hottest times of the day during the summer months. It should also allow some amount of sunlight during the winter months to reduce the need for heaters.

Consider a pergola or living walls to help maintain a comfortable and private space during cooler months.

Use of Energy Saving Fixtures

Using lighting fixtures that help to save energy is a big part of a green deck. This means using LED bulbs to reduce electricity usage and costs.

Motion sensors are also a good way to reduce costs, as they allow the light on the deck to respond to movement so there is no need to have the light on when not in use.

Choosing the Right Materials

Not all building materials are produced in ways that reduce the carbon footprint. However, an experienced deck builder will know what types of recycled material is best for use on a deck. We know what types of wood can be safely used on an eco-friendly deck.

We are also familiar with suppliers of wood that has been farmed in a sustainable manner.

Some recycled materials used for environmentally friendly decks are more expensive than wood, but they stand up better to time and the elements.

Choosing the Right Builder

An expert deck builder will also know how to mix and match materials to give the deck a unique look that fits your style and taste, regardless of your specific design ideas. Choosing unique materials and a builder who understands your design ideas is the easiest way to get a customized deck added to your home.

We work with a variety of homeowners in different areas of Atlanta. Check out our gallery of custom decks to see the quality of our work and some of our unique deck builds.

Hiring a deck builder to build your eco-friendly deck is the best way to ensure that the job is done properly. They will also offer advice on caring for the material used in the project.

While a green deck may cost a bit more initially, over time this will pay for itself in many ways. And the feeling of doing something for the environment is priceless.

Enjoy Your Down Time with Leisure Time Decks

We’ve been building quality decks and remodeling homes in the North Atlanta metro area since 1989. We shifted our focus to primarily outdoor work in recent years, but we still work on interior remodeling from time to time.

Call us any time at 404-939-2201 if you’d like to discuss building a custom eco-friendly deck or outdoor living space, or if you’d like to remodel the interior of your home.

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Deck Care and Maintenance Part Two: Repair and Prevent

inspectorI hope you’re enjoying this two-part deck maintenance series. We discussed how to clean your deck thoroughly and how to stain and seal a wood deck in part one. Now we are going to discuss how to repair and take preventive measures against rot, staining, and other mishaps that often happen to decks. Ready to get started? Let’s go.

First things first – inspect your deck every year. The weather stays hot and humid here in the Atlanta and Decatur Georgia area. It can cause rot and mold and ruin your deck very quickly if you don’t catch it soon enough. If you do find any minor problems we will discuss how to repair them here.

Please don’t attempt to repair structural problems on your own. Call a professional for help, even if it’s just for the initial fix and you repair the rest on your own.

Inspect and Repair

  1. Look for signs of rot. Using a flat-blade screwdriver probe structural members. Start by checking stairs, and pay close attention to the stringers. You need to also check each perimeter post. If you can push a screwdriver a quarter-inch or more in one area you probably have rot.
  2. Use a flashlight to inspect underneath the deck. Pay close attention to the ledger. This is important because the ledger is the piece of framing that connects your deck to your house.
  3. Check all remaining joists, posts, and beams. Check all hardware on your deck and replace any that are seriously rusted.
  4. Check for rotting deck boards and cracks. Any major cracks and rotted boards need to be replaced.
  5. Check all railings. Shake the railings to make sure they are not loose or damaged. If you find any loose connections they can be fixed by drilling pilot holes and adding galvanized lag screws. Look for cracks that have developed around any fasteners. If you find any cracks remove the fastener. Seal the crack with an exterior-grade adhesive. Drill a new pilot hole and add a new galvanized screw.

Preventive Measures

You’ve probably heard the phrase; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is absolutely true when it comes to deck maintenance. Prevention methods include keeping the deck clean and the surrounding area as dry as possible. Keep your deck in great shape by following these simple steps.

  • Trim any nearby bushes and trees. Make sure they are at least 12 inches away from the deck to prevent mold, moss, and rot.
  • Do not let leaves or any other debris pile up in the corners.
  • Move your deck furniture and any planters around so they won’t leave any stains over time.
  • Keep nearby gutters and spouts in good condition.

You’ve put a lot of time and money into building your amazing deck. Proper maintenance guarantees that it will maintain that beautiful, like new appearance year after year. Follow the steps we’ve outlined in both parts one and two of deck care and maintenance, and you simply can’t go wrong.

If you have any questions about how to properly maintain your deck or if you’re concerned about potential structural problems, please give us a call. We’ll be glad to help you with the overall structure of your deck.

Do you like our two-part series for deck cleaning and maintenance? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Let us know by commenting here or sending us an email.